Jingle of Coins

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Authors: C D Ledbetter
only customer. Putting her swimsuit bag on the counter, she studied the woman for a moment. “Would you mind if I made a suggestion?”
    The clerk’s eyes widened. “What kind of suggestion?”
    “One that would make that arrangement even more beautiful than it already is,” Emily said, trying to infuse a note of confidence in her tone. Her fingers itched to touch the arrangement. “Let me show you what I’m talking about. If you don’t like it, I’ll change it back.”
    “I don’t know,” the girl countered hesitantly, rubbing the buttons on the front of her blouse. “Nobody’s supposed to touch the arrangements. Let me get the manager.”
    A few moments later, she returned with another woman, who appeared to be several years older. “I’m the manager,” the older woman announced. “Is there something I can help you with?”
    Emily could feel the heat climbing up her neck. Good Lord, she’d made a fool of herself without even trying! “I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean to offend your clerk. It’s just that the iris arrangement on the counter called out to me the minute I saw it. It’s beautiful, but it needs another color to make it complete.”
    The woman raised one eyebrow, but said nothing.
    Embarrassed by her outburst, Emily grabbed her bag. “Look, I didn’t mean to cause a problem. I’ll just go.” She spun around and started for the exit.
    “Wait,” the manager called out. “Are you a floral designer?”
    “No, but I’ve worked with flowers my entire life.”
    “What did you have in mind?”
    The woman was actually taking her seriously! “I’d use some small yellow roses.”
    To her amazement, the manager grabbed the arrangement and walked toward a room to the right of the register. “Come with me,” she called out as she disappeared through the doorway.
    Keeping her swimsuit bag clutched firmly under her arm, Emily entered a small workroom littered with floral tape, foam, vases, and cut greenery. She watched as the manager placed the arrangement in the center of a worktable and stepped away.
    “Sarah, please bring the miniature yellow roses.” Turning to Emily, the woman motioned toward the arrangement. “Show me what you meant.”
    Encouraged by the woman’s attitude, Emily reached for the slender stems, wrapped them with wire supports, then strategically placed eight roses in the arrangement. Stepping back to view the result, she plucked out two, then shifted the others until she was satisfied with the overall effect. “What do you think?”
    Time seemed to stand still while the manager studied the arrangement. Finally, she nodded, and Emily let out the breath she’d been holding. “You’re right,” the woman agreed. “The splashes of yellow are a perfect foil for the irises. Normally I’d never let a customer touch an arrangement, but, like you, I felt this piece was missing something." She eyed Emily for a moment. “Are you looking for a job?”
    Emily’s pulse quickened. “Maybe. What are you offering?”
    “My regular designer quit two days ago. I’m looking for someone to design arrangements for the shop and for weddings. Interested?”
    “What are the hours?”
    “Nine to five, including some holidays,” the woman replied. “Why don’t you come into my office and we’ll talk about your qualifications? Oh, and before I forget my manners, my name’s Clarise Forbes.”
    When Emily left the manager’s office an hour and a half later, she’d secured the position of floral designer, subject to a background check and mandatory drug testing. If all went well, she could start work in about a week and a half.
    She unlocked her car and tossed the swimsuit bag onto the passenger seat. For once, things seemed to be going her way. Not only had she secured a job doing something she loved; if her talent held out, she’d be able to further the nest egg that would someday provide the down payment for a floral shop of her own. And, provided Glen didn’t

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